Category — Noteworthy Happenings

I haven’t contributed to my noteworthy happenings segment in quite a while but given that it’s now October – a drastic shift in temperature has been detected here in New York – and there was indeed more than 1 noteworthy happening, I thought I would wrap them up in a single post.

First of all, Nagoya Design Week begins this weekend and runs through the 18th of the month. A handful of Nagoya-based companies and designers will be showcasing their products so if you’re in the area be sure to check it out! In particular I would be interested in attending the talk by Hiroshi Nakamura of NAP Architects on Saturday the 17th.

Next, the countdown clock on Nezu Art Museum’s webpage has breached the single digit category. Indeed, the anticipated new museum, designed by Kengo Kuma and conveniently located in central Tokyo, opens next week. Donald Keene, Japanoligist and Professor Emeritus at Columbia University, will be giving a talk on Japanese Nature and Beauty at the reception, also on Saturday the 17th. Good luck trying to attend both!

Related:

• Shibuya Publishing Booksellers by Hiroshi Nakamura
• Garden on a Roof by Hiroshi Nakamura
• Dancing Trees, Singing Birds by Hiroshi Nakamura

I forgot to include this in my post from earlier this week!

New York

I am a Cat (Wagahai wa neko de aru) | Film Forum | Today (7/2)!!
Kon Ichikawa’s adaptation of Natsume Soseki’s satirical novel (1906) about a circle of bohemian dreamers who are awakened to the crude realities of Japanese society. It’s screening today only at Film Forum.
1:00, 3:15, 5:30, 7:45, 10:00

New York

Dalí: Painting and Film | The Museum of Modern Art | 6/29 ~ 9/15

Salvador Dali’s paintings, and his contributions to surrealism, are almost as famous as his mustache. But this exhibit highlights some of his lesser-know work; namely his passion for cinema and numerous collaborations with the likes of Alfred Hitchcock and Walt Disney.
(Image courtesy of The Museum of Modern Art)

Germany

Botanical Sculpture: Makoto Azuma | NRW-Forum | 7/5 ~ 8/3

Floral artist Makoto Azuma’s takes his ikebana and bonsais to Germany for his first show abroad in almost 2 years. If anyone is in the vicinity, please, please go to the show and send me pictures!
(Image courtesy of NRW-Forum)

NEW YORK

 The New Museum

With the opening of The New Museum at the beggining of this month, a whole slew of galleries have relocationed themselves to the lower east side, hoping for overflowing traffic to pour into their doors. Time Out New York has a list of galleries in the area HERE.

TOKYO

 ”Prototype” Exhibition
12/7/07 – 12/16/07

Prototype is an exhibition dedicated to exactly that word; the prototype. It is an attempt to celebrate the process of design by eliminated the final product and focusing on the creator’s original concept. Nosigner, who I blogged about in the past, is also a participant! It should be a really great show!

11:00 – 20:00 | 2-17-15 Koshikawa | FREE

NEW YORK

10/27/2007-11/20/2007: Performa 07

Performa 07 is New York’s 2nd biennial exhibition devoted solely to performance art. Although the show is about halfway through its run that is not important because you still have this week and a little bit of next to enjoy happenings that are all about “now.” Check out their calendar to see what’s going on today!

 Time: depends | Location: depends | Charge: depends

TOKYO

11/4/2007-1/14/2008:  Nordic Modernism

As you may have probably noticed, Scandinavian design is huge in Japan right now. Here is another event for all those Nordic enthusiasts. “Nordic Modernism” looks at design from Sweden, Norway, Finland, and Denmark from the perspective of 3 elements; tradition, functionality and expression.

11:00 – 19:00 | Tokyo Opera City | 1000 yen

TOKYO

10/31/07 – 11/4/07 : 100% Design

100% DESIGN IS AN international exhibit of contemporary interior design. Since its founding in London in 1995, it has grown from a small tent on Kings Road to one of the most influential forums for design, attracting in excess of 75,000 people. If you are in the area I would highly recommend a visit. If not, no worries. I will be posting many pictures next week!

10:00am – 9:00pm | Meiji Jingu Gaien | 2,000 yen

KYOTO, Japan

10/24/07 – 11/7/07 - Gelatin Silver Session
I wanted to tell everyone about this fantastic show that is opening this week. It’s actually on ongoing project and the last component is happening now! 16 established Japanese photographers decided to get together and do shows/talks/workshops to commemorate the silver gelatin print, a photography process that is quickly being replaced by digitalization. My friend’s father is one of the photographers featured in the show! Unfortunatly the workshops and talks have all concluded but you can still catch the last show!

12:30pm – 8:00pm | ArtZone | FREE

Vancouver, Canada

9/26/2007 – Full Moon Art Show
This is a very special event for me. It’s an art show sponsored by BOHEME, a group of artists that I belong to. We will be showcasing the work of 20 different artists ranging from media of paint, sculpture and even sound! If you are in the area I would definitly stop by for a guaranteed inspirational night.

7:00pm– | SPACE | $5

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New York

Opened 9/20/2007 – Isamu Kenmochi and Isamu Noguchi
This exhibition just opened at the Noguchi Museum and surveys the collaborations between the two Isamus. Non-existant collaborative work has been recreated specially for this exhibition. Highly reccomended! Click HERE for more info.

10:00am–5:00pm | Noguchi Museum | $10

TOKYO

Opens 9/25 (Tuesday) – Asia Digital Art Awards
The “Asian Digital Art Awards” is an international competition aimed at making Asian digital art and design more widely known in the world. It takes place at the Tokyo Midtown Design Hub. Here is a link to the website (Japanese only…yea, I know… not very international.)

11:00am–7:00pm | Tokyo Midtown Design Hub | Free

 I’m currently on vacation in Japan so entries will be sparse, but I promise to resume normal updating as soon as I return (hopefully with a bunch of new ideas to share with you). Meanwhile, I have a follow up to a previous entry…

NEW YORK CITY

Through 9/23  – Design For The Other 90%
The exhibition for sustainable design the the Cooper-Hewitt National Design Museum.
10:00am–5:00pm | Cooper-Hewitt Museum | $12.00

Last week I posted this entry about the INDEX Awards for sustainable design. The event which I would like to write about today is the “Design for the other 90%” exhibition currently on display at the Cooper-Hewitt National Design Museum on the Upper East Side of Manhattan. Some of the top nominations in the INDEX Awards are also in this show, such as the XO Laptop. But every subject has 2 sides to the story and sustainable design is no exception. Many have voiced criticism, saying that the art is not realistic and does not take into consideration some of the dire circumstances that 3rd world nations are in. There is a well-articulated article by David Stairs here. I suggest you pay a visit to the exhibition before it ends on September 23, 2007 (or visit the website) and decide for yourself.

The exhibition, I believe, is an important one. Whether you believe sustainable design is truly for the good of humanity or just another self-righteous Eurocentric mechanism, there is no doubt that the theme of sustainable design has become valid in our society today and will most likely continue to gain authority in the world of design.

NEW YORK CITY

Through 9/1 (Saturday) – Summer of Love
A selection of black & white prints from legendary French photographer Alain Dister, capturing 60s-70s counterculture in New York and San Francisco!
11:00am–6:00pm | Galerie Envoy | Free

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TOKYO

Through 9/3 (Monday) – With Chairs Exhibition
“With Chairs” is a selective exhibition of 100 chairs by those considered to by the great masters of industrial design. Each chair represents one artist’s individual point of view. The exhibition is like a visual history of the ideas that have shaped contemporary design. The website  is in Japanese but you can look at a sample of some of the work displayed.

10:00am–8:00pm | Shibuya Seibu Department Store – 7th Floor | 500 yen